Whatever is in Herbalife’s nutrition products, it seems to be working for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Herbalife is Official Nutrition Sponsor of the international soccer star, who this week was crowned Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016 by the sport’s international governing body. The Best FIFA Football Awards is a new format rolled out this year. The title of Best Women’s Player went to midfielder Carli Lloyd, currently playing for the Houston Dash, who has her own ties to direct sales as a past USANA Ambassador, one of the professional athletes using and promoting the company’s nutrition products.
FIFA’s top athletes are determined by the votes of national team captains and managers from around the world, an online public ballot of fans, and a select group of journalists covering the sport. Each of these groups hold equal sway in deciding the winners.
“Herbalife Nutrition is proud to congratulate Cristiano Ronaldo for this well-deserved award that celebrates an incredible year filled with amazing accomplishments,” said Michael O. Johnson, Herbalife Chairman and CEO. “We have a proud heritage of supporting athletes around the world like Cristiano who exemplify our belief in proper nutrition and a healthy, active lifestyle.”
Herbalife sponsors professional athletes of all stripes, though none so widely revered as Ronaldo, who is currently ranked the most famous athlete in the world by ESPN. Sponsored athletes use Herbalife Nutrition products on a regular basis, and Ronaldo has even collaborated with the company on a co-branded offering, Herbalife24 CR7 Drive. The sports drink was formulated with Ronaldo’s nutritional needs in mind, but is intended to boost athletic performance at any level.
The FIFA honor is one of several major awards Ronaldo has collected in the past year. Most recently, the Real Madrid forward won the 2016 Ballon d’Or, the annual award presented by France Football. He also earned an unprecedented fourth Golden Boot from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), an award given to the leading scorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league. The organization also named Ronaldo its 2015/16 UEFA Best Player in Europe.
